Catalytic removal of volatile organic compounds using ordered porous transition metal oxide and supported noble metal catalysts

Most of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful to the atmosphere and human health. Catalytic combustion is an effective way to eliminate VOCs. The key issue is the availability of high performance catalysts. Many catalysts including transition metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, and supported noble metals have been developed. Among these catalysts, the porous ones attract much attention. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the synthesis of ordered mesoporous and macroporous transition metal oxides, perovskites, and supported noble metal catalysts and their catalytic oxidation of VOCs. The porous catalysts outperformed their bulk counterparts. This excellent catalytic performance was due to their high surface areas, high concentration of adsorbed oxygen species, low temperature reducibility, strong interaction between noble metal and support and highly dispersed noble metal nanoparticles and unique porous structures. Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over typical catalysts was also discussed. We made conclusive remarks and proposed future work for the removal of VOCs.